A HEREFORD athlete has been picked to represent Great Britain at the ITU World Championships in Canada September.

Eliot Taylor received the news after a fine performance in a qualifying event in Ellesmere in May.

There were 3 qualifying races across the country, where athletes would compete to make the grade.

Taylor competed in the fastest age group in the standard distance with around 80 other competitors fighting for the available 14 places, consisting of 12 automatic places and 2 roll down places.

The Hereford man secured his ticket to Canada with the first roll-down place in the 20–24 age group.

His achievement is all the more remarkable as he has earned international recognition after just six months as a triathlete and this was his first ever open water triathlon and race at standard distance.

Taylor followed up with a ninth-place finish in the Pembroke Standard Distance Triathlon.

With the announcement of the qualification, the game plan and programme will need to be reviewed. We are talking through his intentions during this week and will readjust his preparation accordingly.

In Sweden, Kathryn King secured an impressive seventh place finish in the women's field at the Vansbro Middle Distance Triathlon.

She was third fastest on the run, on a tough course and in testing conditions.